Compare the2023 BMW M5VS 2023 Audi S4

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M5 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S4 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M5 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the S4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M5 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S4.

The M5’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The S4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M5 and the S4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S4.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M5’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the M5 has a standard 249-amp alternator. The S4’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The M5’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 251 more horsepower (600 vs. 349) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6. The M5 Competition’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 268 more horsepower (617 vs. 349) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the S4’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the BMW M5 is faster than the Audi S4:

Regenerative brakes improve the M5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The M5 has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the S4 (20.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the M5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the S4:

The M5 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The S4 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M5 stops much shorter than the S4:

For better traction, the M5 has larger tires than the S4 (F:275/40R19 & R:285/40R19 vs. 255/35R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M5 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The S4’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M5’s wheelbase is 6.4 inches longer than on the S4 (117.4 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M5 is 2 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the S4.

The M5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.4% to 45.6%) than the S4’s (57% to 43%). This gives the M5 more stable handling and braking.

The M5 CS handles at 1.02 G’s, while the S4 Prestige pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the S4 Prestige (23.3 seconds @ .91 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M5 a Mid-size car, while the S4 is rated a Compact.

The M5 has 11 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S4 (103 vs. 92).

The M5 has 3.4 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the S4.

The M5 has a much larger trunk than the S4 (14 vs. 12 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the M5 has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button or just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The S4 doesn’t offer a power trunk, so its trunk has to be closed manually.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The M5 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The S4 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the S4, the M5 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The M5’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the M5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S4 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The M5 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the S4.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW M5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the S4 Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The M5’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The S4 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 37% during 2022.